The sewer system in Lakeland along with a proposed high school in the City took center stage during a multi-hour meeting of the Board of Commissioners (BOC) at City Hall Thursday night (1.10.19)
The Beer Board met before the BOC and approved an off-premises beer permit for Delta Blues Winery in Lakeland.
Link to beer board: https://tn-lakeland.civicplus.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/810
Link to Beer Board Livestream: https://livestream.com/lakeland/events/8521586
Link to BOC: https://tn-lakeland.civicplus.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/809
Links to BOC Livestream feeds: https://livestream.com/lakeland/events/8521581; https://livestream.com/lakeland/events/8521768
The two-page BOC agenda included sewerage commission business on the sewer concept plan for Arcadia Planned Development. Represented by Attorney Nathan Biggs, the developer (Belz Investo G.P) was requesting a five-year extension for the sewer plan. The resolution passed, but was amended.
Link to Google album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/t2C7VX3zjeevRkpJ8
Sewerage Commission and Arcadia
City Engineer Emily Harrell explained the resolution, noting the property, which is to be north of Lakeland Elementary School, would be on the Clear Creek Interceptor which is at capacity. The sewer plan and project could not move forward until the interceptor is complete and that estimate is five years, she said.
The line serves areas east of Seed Tick Road and does not impact the upcoming commercial projects of Lakeland Commons and The Lake District, she said.
Mayor Mike Cunningham said this sewer construction is “A vital piece of our infrastructure.” He said he had seen the plans for Arcadia and he thought it was a phenomenal development. “It’s extremely high end.”
There was discussion by Vice Mayor Josh Roman about granting the extension. He asked about the impact on existing developments in the City who need to be on the sewer and are ready to build today.
The resolution was amended for approval of the later of August 2023 or one year after the completion of construction of the Clear Creek Interceptor. Further, should phase 1 not be executed by the 2023 date, the resolution becomes null and void.
Dialogue on Arcadia continued with resolutions 5 and 6 and a presentation of the project by Mr. Biggs. He explained the 115 acres and 14-acre lake will include 72 lots in phase 1 and 54 in phase 2. One-half of the acreage is open, common space. Both resolutions were approved, with the sewer language as amended during the Sewerage Commission meeting.
Among the six discussion items, the Citizen’s Advisory Board, Ethics officer and Citizen’s Financial Review Board were deferred to future meetings.
High school funding
The last item on the agenda was discussion of funding for a high school in Lakeland, sponsored by Vice Mayor Josh Roman. He said he was continuing the conversation started at a December meeting.
Lakeland high school students attend Arlington High School through an interlocal between the two cities until a high school is built in the City. The Lakeland School System consists of Lakeland Elementary School and Lakeland Middle Preparatory School, serving grades PK-8th grades.
Mayor Cunningham said he is concerned about the financial state of the City. He said the total debt for the 2018-19 budget is $23.5 million. He wants to see where the City is financially and understand the explanation for building a school now. He talked of debt obligations including New Canada Road, sewer interceptor, a fire department and a high school.
“I’m at a loss as to where to get the money unless we borrow it,” he said. “I will listen to anything which makes rational sense.”
Vice Mayor Roman said the real numbers show building a high school will cost the City nothing for the next four to five years. Kyle Wright, city finance director, explained the numbers of the current middle school debt and new money for a high school. He suggested the best course would be to use General Obligation Bonds (GOB) to wrap around the CON (Capital Outlay Notes) with issuance of the bonds.
At a Dec. 19 meeting, Vice Mayor Roman suggested foregoing the start of a Lakeland fire department and diverting that money ($1,491.373) to pay off two debt obligations and utilize the payments towards a new 30-year bond to fund the new high school.
In that meeting he said, “This is almost the exact amount we were going to use to seed the newly formed and created fire department and it frees up $268,000 of current debt payments that can be used towards the new 30-Year high school bond. Our current payment and the additional $268,000 gives us a new contribution of $2,481,150 leaving us about $450,000 short.”
In a surprise statement that night, Dr. Ted Horrell, Lakeland School System (LSS) superintendent, suggested the LSB (Lakeland School Board) could consider paying the shortfall for four years, about $3 million, from the LSS (Lakeland School System) fund balance.
And on the LSB agenda for Monday (1.14.19) is discussion on updated construction costs and timeline estimates for a high school.
At the Thursday meeting, Commissioner Wesley Wright said there is no doubt there will be a loan needed to build a high school and the City will need the facility in less than five years. It takes two years to build the school, he noted, and costs are increasing.
Commissioner Richard Gonzales Jr. questioned building without the money and also just how many students would be coming from new neighborhoods planned for Lakeland. He also said the Arlington School System might not want Lakeland to leave. And because of the interlocal, Lakeland is obligated to stay.
Vice Mayor Roman said the idea is not to argue. “The time is now,” he said. “The only way to do this is with a 30-year bond, without a tax increase. Commissioner Gonzales said with a GOB there would have to be a vote. Vice Mayor Roman said there won’t be a vote.
Mayor Cunningham said to show him the numbers.
Five residents pulled cards to speak on school funding:
- Geoff Hicks spoke twice during the evening. Once to challenge the Mayor about his comments on social media about former Mayor Wyatt Bunker scamming the City. He said he felt Mr. Bunker was due an apology. Mayor Cunningham said the information was fact-driven data and true, but he would pull the comments off his campaign sites to help heal the City. Mr. Hicks, who is also an LSB member but spoke as a citizen, commented in favor of building the school sooner than later.
- Shaun Brannen, a City volunteer Board member, said he was speaking as a citizen in favor of building the school now.
- Tim Roberts was the third speaker in favor of building a high school now.
- Fourth speaker in favor of a high school now was Jeremy Burnett who is a member of the Lakeland Education Foundation.
- The fifth speaker was Martha Higdon who said she believes the sewer system is more important than building a school now.
And the rest of the meeting
Mr. Wright gave a treasurer’s report, noting that all funds looked fine and nothing is exceeding budget.
There were reports from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, City Manager Shane Horn and commissioners.
Proclamations were presented to former Commissioners Matt Wright and Clark Plunk for their service to the City, as well as former Mayor Wyatt Bunker who was not in attendance.
A first reading amending the Fiscal Year 2018-19 budget was approved but will reappear in February as two resolutions. The resolution included $30K for a Lakeland Chamber of Commerce EDGE (Economic Development Growth Engine) grant and $37K for the Athletic Complex. Mayor Cunningham said he wanted more accountability from the Chamber and questioned why so many Lakeland businesses are not members of the C of C. He said he would like to see how they are spending money to grow the City.
Commissioner Wesley Wright will be the liaison to the Municipal Planning Commission (MPC)/Design Review Commission (DRC).
The resolution reappointing two members to the Parks and Recreation Board and selecting a new member was amended to remove the new appointment and consider that vacancy in February.
Resolutions 7 (Oakwood Grove) and 8 (Kensington Manor) were approved.
A resolution for a contract with Team Waste Memphis, LLC (replacing Republic Services this spring for waste for residential waste service) was amended and passed. The carts provided by the new company will be owned by the City, complete with the City logo. However, the City cannot terminate the contract for 24 months and, after that, must give 180 days to terminate.
Resolutions 10 (on-call professional engineering services) and 11 (Clear Creek Interception design) were approved.
Vice Mayor Josh Roman suggested that sewer fees be revisited and perhaps lowered for citizens. Mr. Wright said he had concerns before considering lowering the fees including money for capital projects and emergencies. The Mayor said he felt the fund should have enough reserve money for emergencies.
Also up for discussion by Vice Mayor Roman was splitting the MPC/DRC and he asked that a resolution be prepared for February. Both the Mayor and Commissioner Gonzalez said they thought simpler was better with one stop for developers.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:08 p.m.
… Photos by Jim Willis, Lakeland Currents
